Not out of the woods yet
This weekend, it’s time to make the wooden structure that will make this into a permanent object. Wood frames, boxes and so on used to be a part I dreaded when it came to making objects… although it can seem old fashioned to make things out of wood, it can be a very useful material, especially in situations that call for bigger structures than are feasible through 3D printing. Plus, wood is lovely . This all motivated me to take a woodworking class last year and although I have a lot to learn still, I feel better equipped to tackle this part of the project. I decided to make the frame around the invention out of pine, and use light presswood to make the inside surface. Although it’s probably overkill, I decide to use dovetails to join the 4 sides together. Dovetails are kind of like puzzle pieces – they take a lot of skill and attention to detail, and they are beautiful and solid. Plus they give me an excuse to use my Japanese saws! These are special, very thin saws that cut through wood in no time. Along with a mallet, a chisel, and a good movie, the day zips by and I complete the frame.
Next, I use my router to make a thin slot on the inside to place the presswood backing, and drill out some holes to insert the fiber optics that make up the net, some dowels that will make the fish spin around, and some potentiometer knobs.
